LSA teachers continue to learn about the Reggio Emilia approach and fine tune their teaching styles by being active members of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA).

"The North American Reggio Emilia Alliance exists to connect early childhood educators and advocates together in discovering, interpreting, and promoting Reggio Emilia inspired education. NAREA believes in the inherent abilities and basic rights of children and adults, particularly with regard to their competence and right to actively construct relations, knowledge, feelings, and identity. NAREA works to mobilize educators, parents and policymakers to play a collective role in moving the value of early childhood education to a position of priority. Through conferences, networking, and resource sharing, NAREA is advancing an inspiring and innovative movement that is giving more quality and excellence to education." - NAREA

Background

Reggio Emilia Approach

At LSA, we believe our philosophy and our school is the perfect learning environment for every child. However, our philosophy and our school is not perfect for every parent.

The Reggio Emilia approach originated in the town of Reggio Emilia, a small town in Italy, out of a movement towards progressive and cooperative early childhood education. It is unique to Reggio Emilia, therefore it is not a method. There are no international training colleges to train to be a Reggio Emilia teacher. Outside of the town of Reggio Emilia, all schools and preschools are Reggio-inspired, using an adaptation of the approach specific to the needs of their community. This is important, as each student, teacher, parent, community, and town are different. No two Reggio-inspired communities should look the same, as the needs and interests of the children within each community will be different. Typically, the Reggio approach is applied to preschools and early childhood settings, but with an understanding of the general principles, this inspiring child-led approach can be adapted to the home and grade school as well.

The Reggio Emilia Approach is an innovated and inspiring approach to early childhood education. It values the child as strong, capable, resilient, and rich with wonder and knowledge. Every child brings with them deep curiosity and potential and this innate curiosity drives their interest to understand the world and their place within it.